Arizona State Wins NCAA Gymnastics Title

LINCOLN, Neb. — Key performances in the final event by sophomore twins Dan and Dennis Hayden combined with a penalty levied against Nebraska helped Arizona State win its first NCAA men's gymnastics title Saturday.

Dan Hayden scored a 9.9 in the high bar, and his brother posted a 9.8.

Arizona State, which had finished second in 1978 and 1974, scored 283.90 points to 283.60 for second-place Nebraska. Stanford was third with 279.50.

The judges' denial of a fourth protest proved costly for the Cornhuskers because of an automatic penalty of three-tenths of a point. Without that protest, the meet would have ended in a tie.

This is the first year the NCAA has permitted coaches to file inquiries about scoring in gymnastics competition. The three-tenths of a point penalty is assessed if the fourth protest filed by a coach is denied.

Nebraska also suffered when Wes Suter, on his final vault, slipped and sat down upon landing.